Ruse Burglary Scam

Be wary of letting someone into your home, no matter what excuse they provide. Here is the latest on the ruse burglary scam.

Who Is It Targeting

Home residents, especially the elderly

What Is It

A burglary based on a plausible “ruse”

What Are They After

Residents in one state have already been warned about ruse scams that use a plausible excuse to enter your home, only to rob you instead. A ruse scam happens when someone comes to the door and claims they need to check for a gas leak, make sure your cable service is working correctly, flush all the toilets due to work on a water main down the block, or any other similar excuse. These scammers often work in pairs, so one person can keep you occupied with pleasantries or a clipboard full of questions while the other person steals money, jewelry, or other items.

How Can You Avoid a Ruse Burglary Scam

• Never let anyone in your home without prior notification and identification.
• If anyone claims to need access to your property, tell them to wait right there while you call the company they work for.
• Do not use a phone number they provide, as it could be part of their ruse.

If you think you may be a victim of identity theft or a ruse burglary scam, contact the Identity Theft Resource Center for toll-free, no-cost assistance at (888) 400-5530. Find more information about current scams and alerts here. For full details of this scam check out this article from Roselle.